Huntsville, Alabama (WHNT) — Complaints from parents of Grissom High School students turned the issue of school lunches into a broader debate about the district’s health food policy.
This conversation has opened the door for parents from other northern Alabama school districts to reach out.
Most of them are responses to this week’s rebuttal from Henry Ward, director of nutrition at Huntsville City Schools.
As previously reported, parent concerns about lunches served at Grissom are pervasive, raising the topic of what the district’s nutrition policy is.
A tray of Doritos, meat and beans was served to the children, but their parents said they didn’t know what was being served. Ward says the menu is available to both parents and students, but parents who don’t want to be identified say something is wrong with the school’s nutrition program.
“School systems need to do their part and they need to do it now,” an anonymous parent told News19. I’ll do it next week. ”
Schools around North Alabama shared their frustrations about the lack of quality food and their children’s dietary needs. He said it was a healthier brand.
“First of all, we don’t serve regular Doritos,” Ward explained. “All our Doritos are low fat and all our chips are toasted.”
One parent objected.
“For him to claim that they don’t serve them… [it’s] It’s clear he was wrong,” they said.
Ward’s explanation provoked a massive response from parents on social media, followed by posts of other items offered in the cafeteria. Parents say Grissom’s kids don’t have the option of choosing their lunch.
“If most children are being forced to make a choice, then there shouldn’t be too many schools that aren’t able to do it, so why should they double down on schools that don’t have the opportunity to help those kids?” are not getting the same nutritious lunch options as other children,” the parent said.
Parents say they wanted to divert the attention Grissom received from the controversy.
They want the school’s nutrition director to review what’s on offer and increase the value of nutrition.
“I can imagine Grissom staff and faculty feeling the same frustration,” explained one parent. “They work hard to give their children a positive environment that helps them grow.”
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